job posting

Communications Associate

  • Hourly Part Time (up to 24 hours per week)

  • $17.50 - $22.05

  • Reports to: Communications Director

  • Direct Reports: None 

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM), a nonprofit arts organization committed to creating meaningful art experiences informed by our relationship to water, is poised to amplify the work it is doing more broadly across the state and region, all the while continuing to serve as a resource and asset for the community it operates from. Over the next five years, MMAM aims to make its work more well known across both digital and print platforms, execute a series of strategic marketing campaigns that will directly translate into increased attendance, program participation, and increased membership and donor engagement.  

Our Communications Director is looking for a Communications Associate to assist with the day-to-day communications, marketing, and publicity efforts of the organization as directed by the Communications Director, who leads a strategic and innovative communication plan. 

Responsibilities include: 

Brand and Design (30%)

  • Protecting the integrity, continuity, value, and presence of the organization’s brand across all outward and inward facing initiatives, including marketing, public relations, community engagement, and signage across the entire facility, indoors and out

  • In-house design work (signage, maintaining brand standards)

  • Design and create collateral and printed pieces 

  • Organize and enhance print distribution lists 

Content Creation and Management (30%)

  • Planning, developing, editing, implementing, and maintaining engaging digital content for the museum’s website and social media channels ensuring they reflect current programs and events and the museum’s communications strategy

  • Assists the Director of Communications to manage and maintain a consistent communications calendar, including the organization’s digital newsletter, printed materials, social media post

  • Social media management

  • Video editing

  • Updating the website

  • Constant Contact/Email Creation and management

  • Photographing events and editing photos

  • Organizing photos, logos, and other digital assets

  • Working with contracted photographers

Public Relations and Outreach (30%)

  • Supporting the Communications Director to manage media relations, special outreach events, and external publications

  • Maintaining, executing, coordinating media sponsorships and partnerships, including trade agreements

  • Creating and maintaining relationships with other organizations for cross-promotion, awareness, and develop new innovative partnerships to augment outreach efforts

  • Creating, managing, and building promotional images for press use

  • Maintaining strong relationships with press and media to advance the museum’s earned media presence

  • Managing key media contacts and expanding the museum’s relationships with key media outlets

Other (10%)

  • Assists with development initiatives (membership, donor, foundation, and sponsor relations)

  • Other duties as assigned by the Communications Director.

Position Specifics

  • Part-time (1248 hours a year), Hourly NonExempt

  • Flexibility to work a varied schedule including evenings and weekends required. 

  • Work location: on site

  • Benefits: eligible for Part-Time benefits outlined in the MMAM Employee Handbook, including PTO, SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with employer match, and cafe, retail and program discounts.

You’ll likely demonstrate: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing or design field, or equivalent plus three to five years of related experience

  • Strong written and verbal communication, excellent organizational and time management, and social media proficiency. 

  • Knowledge of PC computer skills including cloud-based ticketing and membership systems, and Excel desired

  • Attention to detail, the ability to multitask, and proficiency with office and design software like Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suite. A proactive attitude, creativity, and strong interpersonal skills are also highly beneficial. 

  • Collaborative spirit and desire to engage with a variety of MMAM departments and outside organizations

  • Ability to handle a variety of operations simultaneously and prioritize tasks

  • Proven ability to work with a wide range of personalities and people across a variety of generations, backgrounds and abilities

Nice to have:

  • Experience working in a museum, arts or cultural organization.

  • Experience advancing equity agendas in the for profit or not for profit sector

Values - This person is a champion of:

  • Centering their work in Relationships and Collaboration.  

  • Stewarding Sustainability, Equity and Hospitality.

  • Operating with Honesty, Transparency and Trust.

  • Being Bold and Brave.

  • Always Enterprising, Always Outstanding.

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is committed to being an inclusive workplace. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the communities and audiences we serve. We are dedicated to fair and inclusive employment practices for all individuals.  The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is an equal opportunity employer and will consider requests for reasonable accommodations based on disability or sincerely-held religious beliefs possible without undue hardship.

Mission

We create meaningful art experiences that explore our relationship with water.

Vision 

Boldly leveraging the generative capacities of great art inspired by water, to spark wonder, shift perspectives, and create a more compassionate and connected world for all. 

About

Before there ever was a Minnesota Marine Art Museum, there was a Maritime Heritage Society, a community group dedicated to preserving and sharing stories about life on the river. Their commitment set in motion the creation of a museum to showcase art inspired by water. MMAM opened in 2006 with the vision of creating a nationally recognized center for arts and culture in Southeast Minnesota. The initial collections consisted of traditional marine paintings and regional folk art. After expanding the quality and diversity of its collections, evolving the exhibition program, adding an annual roster of educational programs and temporary exhibitions, and enlarging its facility, today’s MMAM is a dynamic and surprising experience for tens of thousands of visitors a year.

MMAM operates from Mni Sota Makoce (Land Where the Waters Reflect The Clouds), the traditional homeland of the Dakota people. Residing here since time immemorial, Dakota still call Mni Sota Makoce home, with four federally recognized Dakota nations and many more Dakota people residing in what is now the state of Minnesota. Due to continued legacies of colonization, genocide and forced removal, generations of Dakota people remain disenfranchised from their traditional homeland.  Presently, Mni Sota Makoce has become a refuge and home for many Indigenous nations and peoples, including seven federally recognized Ojibwe nations.  We humbly encourage our audiences to reflect upon the historical legacies held in the lands they occupy.  

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) is committed to actively staying informed and participating in meaningful and sustainable climate action. As we explore our relationship with water, we will uphold the responsibility that cultural/social institutions have to be a resource for building climate resilience through our operations, development, enterprising and engagement efforts. Through connections driven by intention, we strive to be a community asset centered on diversity, inclusion, art, and science.

To apply

Please send your resume, cover letter, two professional references, and two examples of graphic design work to hello@mmam.org.

  • Applications accepted through 5p on December 4, 2025.

  • Interviews will take place the week of December 10-17, 2025.

  • The desired start date is January 5, 2026.